Learn Italian A1 from zero, in English
You don't need to know a single word. From the alphabet and greetings to introducing yourself, ordering at a café, and shopping — explained in a language you actually understand.
Try the first unit freeHow long does this level take? 5-6 weeks
What does A1 actually mean?
A1 is the first level of the European CEFR framework — the absolute beginning. It means you can understand and use simple everyday expressions, and introduce yourself in short sentences.
What you'll be able to do after A1
- Introduce yourself: your name, your nationality, your age
- Order at a café or a restaurant
- Shop at the market or a store without trouble
- Ask for and understand simple directions
- Talk about your family in simple sentences
- Understand simple signs and everyday announcements
What you'll do every day
Vocabulary
Everyday-situation words: the café, the market, the house, the family
Grammar
Essere and avere, noun gender (il/la), and regular -are/-ere/-ire verbs
Listening
Short dialogues at a beginner-friendly pace
Speaking
Record your voice from lesson one and get instant feedback
Sample sentences you'll learn in A1
Mi chiamo Amina e vengo dal Marocco.
How you introduce yourself: your name + your country.
Dov'è il bagno, per favore?
Dove = where — used to ask for a place.
Vorrei un caffè, per favore.
Vorrei = I'd like, a polite way to order.
Il treno parte alle nove.
alle + a number = a time — nove means nine.
A first introduction
Ciao! Come ti chiami?
Hi! What's your name?
Mi chiamo Youssef. E tu?
My name is Youssef. And you?
Mi chiamo Sara. Di dove sei?
My name is Sara. Where are you from?
Sono del Marocco.
I'm from Morocco.
The A1 exam
At the end of the level, a mock exam built like real Italian certificates (CILS, CELI, PLIDA) — 4 skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking.
Lerniyo's exam is built in the style of recognized Italian certificates (CILS, CELI, PLIDA) — it is not an official registration with any of those institutes. The Lerniyo certificate is a completion certificate for our own curriculum.
What will you learn in Italian A1?
- Greetings and introductions
- Introducing yourself: name, nationality, age
- Numbers, time, and dates
- Family
- Food, drink, and ordering at a café
- Housing and the apartment
- Getting around: directions and transport
- Shopping and the market
- Present tense: essere, avere, and regular verbs
- Gender and articles: il/la, un/una
- Simple sentence order
- Everyday questions: cosa, dove, quanto, perché
Learn Italian A1 in English with Lerniyo
Most apps explain grammar using confusing jargon or a third language, adding difficulty on top of difficulty. Lerniyo explains everything in plain English, so you focus on Italian, not on decoding the explanation.
After A1 comes A2
See A2